“Conquer anger by forgiveness, deceit by straight-forwardness, ego by humility and greed by contentment” -Uttaradyayan Sutra Understanding an overcoming Kashay (anger, deceit, greed, ego) provides an overview on the subject with a backdrop of Jain philosophy. Discussion includes a practical approach to overcoming our attachments and aversions.

1. Understanding & Overcoming
Kashay
by Sudhir M. Shah
Anger EgoDeceit Greed
Aversion Attachment

2. What is Kashay?
“Anomaly of soul” arising
out of passions of the
worldly life (Samsar)

3. What is Kashay?
“A survival mechanism”
to mask our insecurities,
fears and inadequacies

4. What it means to be a Jain?
– Follow a path of JINA, (JINA - the victors of
“worldly passions”)
Engage in activities that helps overcome these
“passions”(Kashay). These arise out of
attachment(rag): leading to greed and ego and
aversion(dvesh): leading to deceit and anger.

5. To overcome Kashay
(anger, deceit, ego, greed)
Because Kashay binds karma to
soul & prevents its liberation
(freedom)
Primary Objective of a Jain

6. How to Overcome Kashay?

7. Mahavirswami said
“Conquer anger by forgiveness,
deceit by straight-forwardness,
ego by humility and
greed by contentment”
-Uttaradyayan Sutra

8. With this knowledge, why aren't we
any closer to overcoming Kashay?

9. Society Encourages Kashay
• Comparison
• Competition
• Judgment – Right/Wrong
• Looking Good
• Dominating/Control
Run by Carrot(Greed) & Stick(Fear)

10. Society Encourages Kashay
• Religious Leaders
• Political Leaders
Establish Norms and Memes in order to maintain
their control over the masses.
• In the name of preventing chaos and creating
order

11. Supposed to Happen
Spiritual World
(Liberation)
Religion
Society(Samsara)
Kashay

12. What Happened
Spiritual World
(Liberation)Religion
(Institutionalized)
Society(Samsara)
Kashay

13. 1. Ignorance: For one reason or the other, Jain householders have
refrained from studying scriptures and understanding the
philosophy intertwined in it. Masses almost entirely relied on the
second hand knowledge from monks. Our blind following of many
of our traditional practices have perpetuated our ignorance.
2. Communities got caught-up in ritualistic activities and lost sight of
the objective itself. (I define ritualistic activity as any activity
carried out without understanding its meaning and/or its purpose)
What Happened

14. what is the solution? How
does one overcome Kashay
in a practical sense?

15. The first step we need to take is to
shed delusion (Mithyatva)

16. The capacity to free ourselves from
kashay is within us
and not
in the hand of any external source

17. “We are not human beings
having a spiritual experience.
We are spiritual beings
having a human experience”
— Chardin

18. Anger (Krodh)

19. • Internal anger, which may or may not be
manifested externally
• External anger, which may or may not have an
internal component.
Anger (Krodh)

20. Reasons for anger
:
Arises out of Aversion
1. Old resentments
2. Failed expectations
3. Threat – real or perceived / Hunger
Karma Sanskara
(Under the impulse of previous impressions)

21. I found overcoming anger to be a two step process
1. Stop 'New' anger from developing. The cause of this new
anger is unfulfilled expectations usually from others.
2. Getting rid of old anger/resentment.
Bringing closure
Wiping the slate clean
How to overcome anger

22. Stop New Anger
• Accept others the way they are and the way they
are not
• Understand that as human beings we all have
“flows”
• Observe/listen without judgment

23. Getting rid of old anger/resentment
• Antidote – FORGIVENESS
• Forgiveness is not about the other person, it is all
about you.
• True forgiveness sets us free, so that we are not
continually re-victimized by our wounds.
“Forgiveness isn’t about letting him or her off the
hook… it’s about taking the knife out of your own
soul”

24. Forgiveness
•First forgive yourself – you can not forgive others if
you do not forgive yourself
•It needs to be a genuine one
•It needs to be unconditional
Forgiveness not only makes us whole once again, it
energizes us and makes our world more beautiful than ever.

25. • Another great tool that helps stopping new anger, comes
from our traditional greetings. "Jai Jinendra".
• Instead of viewing it as a glory to Jinas (who are already
liberated!), view an image of Jina in the other person.
You certainly would develop a different level of respect
for all individuals you greet this way, melting down your
anger as well as your ego.
• We need to bring Jina out of our temples and in to our
day to day life!
Other thoughts

26. Modern behavioral science technique
• 'Neuro-linguistic programming'
• Here, one learns to 'scratch' out old memories and
links the triggers of these painful memories to
new positive memories.

27. Deceit

28. Reasons for Deceit
:
Arises out of Aversions
1.Fear of loss – relationship / material
2.Fear of looking bad
3.Survival – avoiding “punishment”
Karma Sanskara
(Under the impulse of previous impressions)

29. Straightforwardness
1. Being transparent – what you are inside… you are
outside – a liberating experience
2. First step – be straight with yourself
3. Understanding that deceit will not overcome fear – it
enslaves you in perpetual fear
Antidote for Deceit

30. Ego

31. Reasons for Ego
:
Arises out of Attachment
1. Desire to look good
2. Desire to be right / making others wrong
3. Desire to dominate
Karma Sanskara
(Under the impulse of previous impressions)

32. Humility
1.Understand that we are no different than others
Inherently perfect and yet in action, “flowed” like others.
2.Trying to “look good” is meaningless exercise.
3.According to Jain scriptures “tap” and “daan” should
remain anonymous – we should stop flaunting it.
4.Sharing and contributing is an opportunity for us and not
favor to others
Antidote for Ego

33. Greed

34. Reasons for Greed
:
Arises out of Attachments
1. Fear of loss – relationship / material
2. Need to dominate /avoid domination
3. Need to look good / not look bad
Karma Sanskara
(Under the impulse of previous impressions)

35. Contentment
1. Abundance mentality v/s scarcity mentality
2. Non-attachment
3. “Persparopgraho Jivanam” – Be present to who you are and
the impact your actions make
4. Stop trying to “look good”
Antidote for Greed

36. My daily practices to live kashay free
• Start the day with GRATITUDE exercise
• Create a day – Who am I going to BE today and
let my action and my feelings come from what I
create and not the circumstances
• Live in NOW - moment by moment
• Be an OBSERVER
• Be aware - take an account of my day

37. Additional thoughts
• Take 100% RESPONSIBILITY of your life
– every aspect of your life
• Understand that you are not a “victim”
• You are where you are because of the choices you
made.
• Only you have the power to make those choices
you can also make different choices

38. • Do not worry about being perfect
• Just take action
• Research, study, knowledge, understanding,
dreaming, even desire …. does not produce results.
• Only ACTION produces RESULTS

39. What action/s are you taking?
Make a commitment
NOW

40. A poem by Tagore
• Go not to the temple to put flowers upon the feet of God,
First fill your own house with the fragrance of Love.
• Go not to the temple to light candles before the altar of God,
First remove the darkness of sin from your heart.
• Go not to the temple to bow down your head in prayer,
First learn to bow in humility before your fellowmen.
• Go not to the temple to pray on bended knees,
First bend down to lift someone who is down trodden.
• Go not to the temple to ask for forgiveness for your sins,
First forgive from your heart those who have sinned against you.